Episode 17 - Dr. Melissa Graves: Intelligence Expert, National Security Scholar, and Senior Military College Professor
Dr. Melissa Graves: Intelligence Expert, National Security Scholar, and Senior Military College Professor
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Dr. Melissa Graves - Associate Professor and Department Chair of Intelligence and Security Studies at The Citadel. Dr. Graves shares her insights into the evolving world of national security and intelligence.
From an early interest in Watergate and the FBI to leading one of the nation’s premier academic programs in intelligence studies, Dr. Graves offers a fascinating window into how history, ethics, and national security intersect. With a Ph.D. in history and a law degree, her work bridges disciplines and challenges students and professionals alike to think critically about power, transparency, and the future of the intelligence community.
In this episode, Dr. Graves shares:
Her career journey from law school into the exciting world of intelligence
How an inspiring college professor served as a career catalyst for her professional pursuits
Popular misconceptions around government objectives and scope related to intelligence collection
How technology has reshaped the way we approach national security
The critical role of ethics in intelligence work
How artificial intelligence (AI) is currently and is projected to impact the realm of intelligence and national security
Career advice for the next generation of intelligence professionals…plus so much more!
With clarity, candor, and a deep commitment to shaping ethical leaders, Dr. Graves offers a powerful voice in the conversation around intelligence, education, and national security. Whether you’re a student, policymaker, or just curious about the people shaping the security of our nation, this episode will inform and inspire.
Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation.
Catch the podcast episode online:
YouTube - click here to listen
Spotify - click here to listen
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive email updates on new Tipping Spears Podcast episodes!
About the Guest:
Dr. Melissa Graves is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina. She researches issues related to national security, including the US presidency’s relationship to the intelligence community. She teaches a variety of courses on intelligence history, analysis, and legal issues. Her book, Nixon’s FBI: Hoover, Watergate, and a Bureau in Crisis (Lynne Rienner Press, 2020) evaluates the complex and oftentimes fraught relationships between the President, Attorney General, and FBI Director. Dr. Graves has published articles in Foreign Policy, the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, IALEIA Journal of Intelligence Analysis, Social Science Quarterly, and Security Journal. She is a coauthor of Introduction to Intelligence Studies, 3rd Edition (Jensen, McElreath, and Graves: Taylor and Francis, 2022). She received her Ph.D. in history and Juris Doctor from The University of Mississippi.